Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 review: Best-ever Android earbuds with nifty AI tricks

When it comes to the best wireless earbuds, Android users have their pick of the litter. Category leaders like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds and Sony WF-1000XM5 boast top-tier active noise cancellation and sound technologies (e.g., hi-res codecs, spatial audio) that enhance the mobile listening experience. The Beats Fit Pro do something that no AirPods model can — provide near-identical Apple performance on the best Android phones via a proprietary chipset. Even budget gems like the Oneplus Buds 3 carry a large number of platform-friendly features that maximize use on any Google-operated device.

Speaking of Google, the company launched flagship noise-cancelling buds a while back, the Pixel Buds Pro, which were well-received, but got lost among of a sea of newcomers and true wireless titans. It’s a shame too, seeing how they laid the groundwork for a sequel to flourish. Two years later, we now have a follow-up. Meet the Pixel Buds Pro 2.

What makes these buds a smash hit? Intuitive controls, long playtimes, and strong ANC and sound mixed with artificial-intelligent features that take full advantage of Google’s robust ecosystem. Scroll down to see why the Pixel Buds Pro 2 are the perfect audio companion for Pixel smartphone owners and all other Android users.

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 REVIEW: Cheat sheet

·       What is it? Google’s newest flagship buds with AI-powered functionality.

·       Who is it for? Android enthusiasts who want platform-first performance.

·       What does it cost? $229

·       What do we like? Their audio quality, playtimes, and Pixel phone integration.

·       What don’t we like? Their spatial audio and very loose fit.

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 review: Price & availability

The Pixel Buds Pro 2 are being sold for $229 / £172 / AU$337 and can be purchased directly from Google or at online popular retailers like Amazon and Best Buy. Color options are Hazel, Peony, Porcelain, and Wintergreen.

As of launch, the second-gen Pixel Buds Pro have a lower MSRP than the $249 AirPods Pro 2, though the latter are frequently on sale for as low as $189. Google’s buds are also more affordable than the $299 Bose QC Ultra Earbuds and Sony WF-1000XM5.

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 review: Design

• Sleek and tiny
• Premium craftsmanship
• Impractical fit

Google took the original Pixel Buds Pro’s design and made it both 24% lighter and 27% smaller. Build quality is sturdy with hard plastic making up the buds’ entire composition. Details like the bold colorways, debossed logo on the touch panel, and integrated wing for “optimal fit” are nice touches. The pebble-shaped charging case is just as gorgeous, displaying a nice matte finish and portable-friendly size. 

As much as I love the buds’ comfort, which is attributed to their miniature size, Google’s design choices affect fit. Notice I wrote “optimal fit” above in quotation marks. The integrated wing doesn’t reach the inner-top part of the ear to keep the buds locked in and stable. Swapping between the multiple-sized silicone tips (XS, S, M, L) won’t help either.

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 review: Features

• Adequate feature set
• Select features are tied to Pixel smartphones
• No iOS app support

Downloading the Pixel Buds app grants all Android users access to the Pixel Buds Pro 2’s features. You can activate listening modes (ANC/Transparency, Conversation Detection), customize controls, enable the Find Device function, monitor Hearing Wellness stats, personalize sound (EQ, volume balance), and turn on other useful functions like multipoint and wear detection. Spatial Audio mode with headtracking is exclusive to the latest Pixel phones.

Apple users can only activate functions assigned to the controls, except for one, which I’ll discuss in the next section. No iOS app leaves iDevice (iPad, iPhone) and Mac/MacBook owners out in the cold from a functional standpoint. 

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 review: Controls

• Excellent control scheme
• Intelligible voice assistance
• No Siri support

The Pixel Buds Pro 2 demonstrated outstanding speech recognition. Google Assistant was dependable for precise voice command execution. Other voice-related features like Google Translate worked like a charm. New to the scene is Google’s virtual AI assistant, Gemini, which is more advanced than Assistant and uses generative AI to answer questions and perform tasks.

Gemini has a long way to go before it can compete with ChatGPT. It understands complex inquiries better than Assistant, but it doesn’t always produce the most accurate answers. For instance, rather than solve my issue with the Pixel Buds Pro 2’s spatial audio mode, it gave me a list of troubleshooting suggestions. Android users can still get quality service out of the feature. I had fun creating AI images, drafting lengthy messages, and gathering online research.

The touch controls are more impressive. I wasn’t expecting buds this small to have terrific touch accuracy, but the Pixel Buds Pro 2 proved me wrong. Google’s miniature touch panels acknowledged and registered input commands with ease. You can employ the single-/double-/triple-tap gesture for standard functions (e.g., call management, playback), swipes for volume adjustment, and the long-tap gesture to enable the digital assistant or toggle ANC modes.

As previously stated, Apple users can only activate functions that are already assigned to each input. Siri is not compatible.

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 review: Sound quality

• Full, dynamic sound with the proper EQ preset
• Lackluster spatial audio
• No high-bitrate codecs

Despite these buds being “custom-built for audio-processing” and carrying a new audio subsystem, sound quality remains on par with the original, which is full and nicely detailed. However, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 require the right EQ preset to achieve this. Sound is bass-heavy right out of the box, but switching to the Clarity preset balances out the soundstage for a lively mix of impactful lows, prominent mids, and transparent highs.

Future’s “Too Fast” knocked hard with its head-rattling 808s drums that surprisingly didn’t distort the soundscape. I was shocked to hear that the rapper’s vocoder rhymes sounded so clear and concise, along with the slapping snares and teetering cymbals. Sensual listens like Amaria’s “Finer Things” were well represented and delivered light, sultry mids with such crispness and delicacy over a thumpy, slow-tempo production. The guitar fiddling on folk tunes like Molly Tuttle’s “Getaway Girl” sounded immersive and lively without spatial audio on, showcasing the buds sonic versatility.

I appreciate the full 5-band EQ to create your own customized sound profile and recommend using it more than the multiple preprogrammed presets. Clarity is the only preset that improves frequency range. All the others make unflattering changes.

There are no high-bitrate codecs (e.g., aptX Adaptive, LDAC) to dynamically scale sound at a faster bit rate when listening to the best streaming music services. This would have boosted clarity. Instead, the buds have a Tensor A1 processor that adapts to ANC, plus LE Audio to lower latency for clearer and smoother sound output. The streaming rate was fast when watching videos, and certain mids and highs sounded clearer on Tidal tracks.  

Google’s Spatial Audio mode isn’t worth checking out. Netflix and YouTube content received a noticeable bump in volume and vocal output. That was it. The head tracking feature didn’t work either.

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 review: Active Noise Cancelation

• Effective ANC and transparency modes
• Weak wind resistance

Google’s Active Noise Cancellation with Silent Seal 2.0 technology is introduced on the Pixel Buds Pro 2. Apparently, it’s engineered to be twice as strong as the previous version, but I couldn’t tell much of a difference. The feature still performs at a high level, eliminating up to 85 percent of incidental noise across the frequency spectrum. Outdoor distractions such as bird chirping, pedestrian chatter, and planes were silenced. Many household noises were also muted. The buds do struggle with certain high-frequency sounds (e.g., crying babies, sirens). Does this affect sound quality? No. My hearing wasn’t thrown off when listening to music in loud environments.

Wind resistance is a miss. That means you can expect to hear whooshing effects when caught in gusty conditions.

Transparency mode is viable for increasing ambient awareness in all environments. It felt great communicating clearly with the missus from across our living room. I could tell when cars and street runners were close by.

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 review: Call quality and connectivity

• Decent voice calling
• Instant pairing with Android and iOS/macOS devices

The Pixel Buds Pro 2 have acceptable call quality, though you’ll want to hold conversations in quiet settings. ANC doesn’t block out much noise, at least that’s what friends and family told me during chats. They were able make out words and sentences. Vocal clarity increased when taking calls indoors. 

Bluetooth 5.4 ran smoothly with range extending to 50 feet before stuttering. Android users have one-tap Google Fast Pair at their disposal. Apple users will find the pairing process seamless; the buds instantly connect and re-pair to iOS/macOS devices. Multipoint technology connects the buds to two devices simultaneously, no matter the platform, and the feature operates well.

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 review: Battery life

• Lengthy playtimes
• Powerful quick charging

A full charge nets you up to 12 hours of battery life (8 hours with ANC on). This beats the AirPods Pro 2 (up to 7 hours) and matches the WF-1000XM5. High volume, multipoint, and special features decrease listening time by about 1.5 hours. I enjoyed three days of moderate use (3 hours daily) before tossing them in the wireless charging case, which holds an additional 48 hours when fully charged. Those who are often pressed for time will breathe easy knowing the buds can generate 1.5 hours of playtime on a 5-minute charge.

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 review: Verdict

The Pixel Buds Pro 2 are remarkable buds that build on their predecessor’s strengths and take big AI swings to create the most comprehensive true wireless Android experience possible.

ANC and sound quality remain solid. Battery life ranks high. You’re given multiple control options, and they all work seamlessly. Then there’s the Gemini platform, which isn’t going to replace your favorite AI chatbot, but it is a notable step forward for mobile users requiring instant action on daily tasks.

Certain flaws are disappointing, specifically spatial audio and their loose fit. Apple users also lose out on many of Google’s top features. That doesn’t take away from Pixel Buds Pro 2’s superb overall performance. Pixel phone owners have every reason to make these their everyday pair of buds, while other Android device owners have a stellar alternative to Bose’s, Samsung’s, and Sony’s flagship models.

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